Jane nodded. “As I recall, you mentioned something about it, though I do not think you said anything about going the next day.”
“That was an error on my part. I had thought to mention it, but the sight of you that night pushed the thought from my mind. My family was to stay at Netherfield, as was Darcy, thoughI knew he would not stay much longer. Imagine my surprise, therefore, when they all returned to London two days later against my wishes. Then, they set about trying to convince me against returning for you.”
This was not a surprise—Lizzy had proven accurate in her assertions of what had happened. “To be clear, Miss Bingley, Mr. and Mrs. Hurst, and Mr. Darcy all disapproved of me?”
Mr. Bingley appeared embarrassed, but he did not hesitate to continue. “The primary opponent was Caroline, though Louisa supported her. Hurst said nothing—his only counsel was that I should be certain of what I wanted before taking the next step. Darcy’s opinion was more nuanced than that. He confined his arguments to his certainty of your indifference.”
Shocked, Jane’s eyes found Mr. Darcy. The gentleman was across the room, speaking with Elizabeth. Jane was not angry, but she wondered how the gentleman could be so confident in claiming to understand feelings that were not his own.
“I see you are confused.” Mr. Bingley sighed. “Darcy is an excellent man, but he is rather rigid. He observed you, saw nothing of your regard for me, and determined that you did not care for me.”
“Did he not consider that I am as reticent as he is?”
“It seems a character so like his own was a bit of a blind spot for Darcy.”
The comment, dry and amusing, struck Jane as humorous, but she did not allow it to distract her. “Then your family offered honest assessments of the situation.” Jane sighed. “Though Mr. Darcy was in error and I do not agree with your sisters’ convictions, I cannot blame them.”
Mr. Bingley appeared pensive. “That was not all, Miss Bennet, though your assessment of Darcy is correct. I believe you are also correct about Louisa, though I have no direct proof of that opinion. Caroline, however, . . .”
Heart icing over at Mr. Bingley’s words, Jane regarded him. “Lizzy insisted your sister was not a friend to your pursuit of me.”
“Your sister shows an uncommon greatness of mind,” said Mr. Bingley with a tight nod. “Though I care little for society and its trappings, Caroline’s ambitions are much higher than mine. She wishes for societal advancement, but I only wish to find a good woman to share my life.”
Again, Jane’s eyes found Mr. Darcy. “She wants to attract Mr. Darcy’s attention.”
Mr. Bingley snorted. “That she does, and anyone can see it. Darcy does not say much, but I have always understood that he has no wish to have Caroline for a wife. I introduced them three years ago—if he meant to offer for her, he would have done so already.”
“Yet your sister continues to hope.”
“She does, little good though it will do her.” Mr. Bingley grimaced. “But Caroline went further than you know. Not only did she claim she had received no letters from you, but she insinuated knowledge of your heart, that you had expressed disinterest in my suit.”
Surprise overtook Jane, though anger replaced it soon after. “I sent two letters to Caroline, the second because I received no reply to the first. Nothing I wrote suggested I did not welcome you.”
“That is what Hurst informed me in his letter.”
“Lizzy must have told him,” said Jane, understanding at once.
Mr. Bingley nodded, but he did not dwell on it. For several long moments, he looked at her before saying in a quiet voice: “I hope this does not affect how you see me, Miss Bennet, though I will not blame you if it does.”
“Mr. Bingley,” said Jane, heart filled with affection for this man, “I do not blame you. In this matter, I think we have both been more trusting than we should have been. Lizzy has seen more clearly than either you or I have.”
“Yes, she has,” said Mr. Bingley, brightening at Jane’s lack of blame for his actions.
“However,” continued she, “if we are to survive this, we must both change. If you are to recommend yourself to me, you must learn to be more assertive, especially as regards your sister. A woman must know that a man will put her before all others if she is to accept his proposal.”
“That is what I have learned from this,” agreed Mr. Bingley. “I shall not allow my sister to dictate my life or mislead me, and certainly not in my choice of wife.”
Jane nodded. “I appreciate your assurances, Mr. Bingley. For my part, Miss Bingley must prove herself to me.”
“As she should,” agreed Mr. Bingley.
“As for Mr. Darcy,” continued Jane, “I shall not hold a grudge, for I know he was acting in what he thought was the best interest of a friend.”
Mr. Bingley’s lips curled into a grin. “To own the truth, I suspect Darcy was motivated as much by the desire to escape your sister’s allure as by his concern for me.”
“It has done him little good,” said Jane with a laugh.
“I shall tease him forever for his failure.”
